Early graduation exam schedule, changed exam combinations: Students struggling before admission season

The 2026 high school graduation exam is expected to take place half a month earlier than every year (from June 11 to June 12, 2026). Many universities limit traditional combinations such as C00 and do not consider transcripts... making many senior students worried and confused.

Urgently adjust the review plan

The fact that some universities limit admission to some traditional subject combinations such as: C00 (literature, history, geography), D01 (math, literature, English), B00 (math, chemistry, biology) makes many students feel that their chances of admission are narrowed, especially for those who have planned since grade 10.

At the end of October, the University of Technology, Vietnam National University, Hanoi informed that in the 2026 admission period, the school plans to stop considering the D01 (math, literature, English) and B00 (math, chemistry, biology) combinations, and will not directly admit candidates with science and technology awards.

A few days ago, in the announcement of the expected plan for regular university admissions in 2026 that the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi announced, there were 3 basic new points compared to the 2025 admissions. Notably, the number of admission combinations was reduced, and the number of majors using the C00 combination (literature, history, geography) was reduced when considering admissions.

Lu Phuong Bao Han, a student at Vo Thi Sau High School (Gia Dinh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City), shared that she is pursuing the B00 combination - an option that many schools, especially medical majors, consider an important criterion in admissions. "Removing many combinations, including B00, will cause disadvantages for students. If they are removed, schools need to announce it soon," Bao Han confided. For her, B00 is not only the main choice but also the "door" to top medical majors.

According to Bao Han, the 2026 high school graduation exam is scheduled to be half a month earlier, which will reduce review and practice time, making it difficult to achieve the necessary fluency before the important exam.

Similarly, Tran Nguyen Nha Uyen, a student at Vo Thi Sau High School, is planning to take the D14 subject combination (literature, history, English) and D01. She expressed concern when hearing that some schools have dropped the D01 subject combination. Nha Uyen said that if universities drop the D01 combination, it will limit many opportunities for candidates. "If my D14 score is lower than expected, I can still use D01 to consider instead," Uyen said.

Ho Hoang Anh Thu, a student at Tay Thanh High School (Tay Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City), is also worried as she has spent time reviewing D01 since grade 10. "I have spent a lot of time reviewing the D01 combination. If the university does not enroll this combination, I will have to re-evaluate my study goals and the combination for admission, creating pressure to learn and switch to other methods or combinations in a short time," Anh Thu expressed.

Grade 12 students are worried about having to simultaneously prepare for the high school exam, ability assessment, foreign language certificate and peer pressure.

PHOTO: NGAN LE

Pressure from "racing" for many exams at the same time

In addition to the worry of changing the exam subject combination and the earlier-than-expected high school graduation exam schedule, many students have to simultaneously prepare for the high school graduation exam, competency assessment (AAP) and foreign language certificates.

Pham Nguyen Nguyen Tuong, a student at Luong The Vinh High School (Cau Ong Lanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City), shared: "I understand that the innovation is to assess students' true abilities, but I still hope that the structure and level of the questions will be kept stable so that I can prepare more carefully and be more confident when entering the exam."

Huynh Vo Vien Tri, a student at Phu My High School No. 1 (Phu My Commune, Gia Lai ), expressed his wish that universities would expand more admission methods, especially the National High School Exam, to create more opportunities for students and reduce the burden of focusing on a single exam. "The most worrying part about the upcoming exam is probably the amount of knowledge and exercises, but the review time is not as much as last year, so it is a bit rushed, but without pressure, how can there be diamonds," Vien Tri confided.

In addition, Nguyen Thi Thanh Ngoc, a student at Phu My High School No. 1, shared that she always feels stressed because she has to prepare for many different exams and certificates at the same time, such as IELTS to review academic records, the National High School Exam to expand admission opportunities, and the important high school graduation exam.

Amid the changes, Phan Dang Cam Chau, a student at Tay Thanh High School, hopes for one thing: "I just hope the exam and admission process will remain stable so we can focus on studying with peace of mind and in the most fair way."

What did the teacher say?

As a math teacher with many years of experience in university entrance exam preparation, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Phu My High School No. 1, believes that removing some traditional subject combinations is a big change, directly affecting students' learning orientation. Not being bound by fixed combinations helps students have the opportunity to choose subjects that are more suitable to their abilities and career orientation. However, this change also poses a big challenge, especially when students lack early orientation information and universities have not clearly agreed on the corresponding admission methods between schools with the same training major.

"This year's exam preparation situation is therefore very different from previous years: students tend to be strongly differentiated according to priority subject groups; the pressure to choose exam subjects takes place earlier; at the same time, there are many admission methods that make the distribution of review time among students uneven. Some students focus too much on their records and neglect the core knowledge foundation, leading to an imbalance in the quality of exam preparation among student groups," Mr. Hung added.

In order for the future university entrance exam to be fair and stable, Mr. Hung believes that it is necessary to maintain a consistent exam structure for at least 3-5 years, giving students and teachers enough time to adapt and prepare. The exam needs to ensure reasonable differentiation, properly assessing thinking ability instead of technical tricks.

Early and stable announcement of admission regulations is essential to avoid students being passive. When policies are stable, admission methods are transparent and exams accurately assess abilities, university entrance exams will become fairer and accurately reflect the quality of education.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lich-thi-tot-nghiep-som-to-hop-thay-doi-hoc-sinh-loay-hoay-truoc-mua-tuyen-sinh-185251204152849273.htm